Esther tells Achashveirosh in the name of Mordechai of a plot to assassinate him (Achashveirosh). They investigate, and stop the would-be assassins. And then... nothing? Why didn't Achashveirosh reward Mordechai right then?

You know how it is when you're a king -- you're focused on the immediate issue (not getting killed), and you rely on your servants to take care of pesky little details like record-keeping and compensation. :-) Seriously, though, it's not clear that Achashveirosh knew who reported it until his insomniac night; it may not be that he forgot but that he never knew where the info came from.
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Monica Cellio♦Feb 21 '12 at 22:47

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@MonicaCellio, but doesn't the Megillah say that "Esther informed the king in the name of Mordechai" (2:22)?
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AlexFeb 21 '12 at 23:19

@Alex, ah yes, you're right. But busy kings can be forgetful, especially when the credit comes at the beginning of the matter when it's just a rumor, and at this point in the story it's not clear to me if Esther is anything more than a pretty face to King A.
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Monica Cellio♦Feb 22 '12 at 1:25

@Alex, even so, it is not inconceivable that he was distracted, as were his assistants, especially considering the fact that he was just saved from a plot to kill him. He may not have thought to order a reward/celebration for Mordechai, or even if he did, it may have been forgotten about in the aftermath and (most likely) the ensuing investigation into whether there were more conspirators, and of course meting out punishment (and possible trial, although it's also possible that was not seen as necessary), etc.
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Seth JFeb 23 '12 at 0:04

2 Answers
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The Malbim on Megillas Esther (2:23, page 61 in the aforelinked book) asks this question, and concludes that this is one of the numerous miracles surrounding the story of Esther's ascent to power. It would have been much more normal for the debt to have been paid off immediately, and his not doing so is simply an act of G-d.

Since Mordechai did not tell the King himself, Achashveirosh felt beholden to Esther for saving his life, and in addition Hashem put into the mind of Achashveirosh not to pay Mordechai right away in order to save it for later when it was needed.